Package doffer mechanism

ABSTRACT

Improved mechanism to index a yarn package from the operative position to the inoperative position with a smooth motion to eliminate jerky starts and stops and vibratory movement therebetween.

United States Patent 1 Eschenbach [451 July 24, 1973 PACKAGE DOFFER MECHANISM [75] inventor: Paul W. Esch enbach, Spartanburg,

[73 Assignee: Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C.

22 Filed: o.13,1971

[21] App1.No.: 188,919

[52] US. Cl 74/89, 74/827, 242/130 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6h 27/02 [58] Field of Search 28/75; 242/130;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1955 Hopkins ..74/89 12/1969 Seybold 74/827 2,632,612 3/1953 Strange 242/130 2,743,062 4/1956 Schweiter 3,473,417 10/1969 Peterson 74/827 3,603,518 9/1971 Cochran, Jr. 242/130 3,618,184 11/1971 Pearce et a1. 28/75 Primary Examiner-Charles J. yhre Assistant Examiner-Wesley Ratliff, Jr. Attorney-Norman C. Armitage, Earle R. Marden et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Improved mechanism to index a yarn package from the operative position to the inoperative position with a smooth motion to eliminate jerky starts and stops and vibratory movement therebetween.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENInJuL24|m SHEU 1 BF 4 INVENTOR, PAUL W.ESCHENBACH TTORNEY PAIENTEB JUL24 191s SHEEI 2 0F 4 ON NN Il INVENTOR. L W. ESCHENBACH ATTORNEY PATENTED M2 75 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR. PAUL w. ESCHENBACH TTORNEY SHEEI t [If 4 ROTATION ANGLE FIG-4- MQ.W

TTORNEY PACKAGE DOFFER MECHANISM In U. S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 776,534, filed Nov. 18, 1968 now US. Pat. No. 3,168,184, there is disclosed apparatus to provide a yarn package on which high bulk yarns are wound under very little tension to provide a compact but loose yarn package which is amenable to efficient bulking and dying. In the above patent application there is disclosed a two position pivot arm assembly which is rotated approximately 180 to rotate a completed package away from the winder while an empty spindle is rotated into operative position. This assembly tends to move in jerky steps, especially when starting and stopping causing the full yarn package to be distorted resulting in poor package quality.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an indexing mechanism which rotates the pivot arm assembly in a smooth path from start-up to stop.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indexing mechanism which starts up at a smooth slow speed and then increases the speed toward the middle of the rotational path and then slows it down for a smooth stop.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as the specification proceeds to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the pivot arm assembly with the turn table and yarn package removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the pivoting linkage; and

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating pivotal speed of the pivot arm versus angular position.

Looking now to the drawings and especially to FIG. 4, the new and improved indexing mechanism will be explained. In FIG. 4 the reference numeral 10 represents the desired characteristics of an indexing mechanism which accelerates slowly and smoothly from start at to a maximum speed at 90 and then smoothly slows down to a stop at 180. Reference numeral 12 represents the typical indexing mechanism wherein the pivoting member accelerates fast from a stop, levels off at a constant speed and then abruptly comes to a stop at 180. This type of action, as pointed out previously, is not desirable because of effect on the yarn package being pivoted to the doffing position.

The mechanism shown in FIGS. l-3 provides the desired curve represented by reference numeral in FIG. 4. Each spindle of the winder consists of two positions so that one package can be in preparation and a completed package can be in the process of being doffed. The yarn packages 14 are wound on a turn table 16 which telescopes over the spindle 18 and rotates therewith. The spindle 18' is driven by a helical gear 20 which engages the gear 22 mounted on the stub shaft 24 connected to the bottom ofthe spindle 18. The helical gear 20 is mounted on a shaft 26 which is driven by any suitable means (not shown).

The rotably driven stub shafts are mounted in outward extensions 28 of the U-shaped member 30 integrally connected to indexing arm 32. The indexing arm 32 is rotably supported by a shaft 34 fixed thereto and rotably mounted in base plate 36. To rotate the shaft 34 and consequently the indexing arm 32 a rod member 37 is connected thereto and supports a sliding block 38. Pivotaily connected at 40 to the sliding block 38 is a U-shaped lever arm 42 rotably supported on stub shaft 44 connected to base plate 36. To rotate the U-shaped lever arm 42 a lever arm 46 is fixed thereto at one end and is pivotally connected to the piston arm 48 of double acting piston 50 pivotally connected at 52 to the frame of the winder.

As indicated by the arrows the indexing arm 32 is rotated approximately 180 to place the full spindle in the doffing position and the empty spindle in operative position with the winding head (not shown). In order to correctly position and readjust the position of the spindle a pair of adjustable stops 54 and 55 are mounted on the bottom of the extensions 28 to engage the disc member 56 adjustably mounted on the winder frame. In one position stop 54 engages one side of the disc member 56 and in the other position the stop 55 engages the other side of the disc member.

OPERATION When it is desired to doff the package 14 and place an empty spindle 18 in position under the winding head hydraulic fluid is introduced through conduit 58 into the piston 50 and exhausted through the conduit 60 to cause the piston rod 48 to move outwardly. As the piston rod 48 moves outwardly the lever arm 42 is moved in a counterclockwise direction pushing the rod member 37 in a counterclockwise direction thereby rotating the indexing arm 32 in the same direction so that the gear 22 disengages from the helical gear 20. At the same time the sliding block 38 slides radially inward on the rod member 37 increasing the rotational speed of the indexing arm due to the decrease in effective length of the rod 37 which reduces the force opposing movement of the indexing arm. Since the movement of the piston arm 48 is substantially uniform and the force opposing movement is being reduced the indexing arm will pick up speed until it reaches a maximum at about the position. Then the speed of the indexing arm will start to decrease since the sliding block 38 starts to slide outwardly on the rod member 37 until it reaches the maximum position when the indexing arm 32 has rotated approximately and the stop 55 has contacted the disc 56 and the gear 22 of the empty spindle position has engaged the helical gear 20. In this position the package 14 can be doffed while yarn is being wound on the other spindle.

Then when it is desired to reverse again the positions of the spindles, hydraulic fluid is supplied to conduit 60 and exhausted from conduit 58 and the above opera tion is reversed with the indexing arm rotating in the clockwise direction.

It can be seen that the herein described indexing mechanism provides a motion that generally follows the curve shown in FIG. 4 allowing smooth starts and stops with maximum rotational speed of the indexing arm 32. This is accomplished by a uniform motion of the piston arm coupled with a linkage which gradually shortens and then increases the effective length of the rod member causing the rotation of the indexing arm 32.

Although i have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention and I desire to be limited only by the scope of the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. An indexing mechanism for an indexing arm having at least two spindle positions thereon comprising: a first means rotably mounting said indexing arm, rod means fixed to said first means, a second means connected to said rod means to rotate said first and said second means and a means operably associated with said second means to cause said second means to rotate said first means to selectively place one of said positions into operative relationship with a fiber supply means, said second means including means to automatically vary the effective length of said rod means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the stop means are operably associated with an indexing arm to stop the rotation of said arm in a predetermined position.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said stop means is adjustable.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means to vary the effective length of said rod means includes a block member slidably mounted onsaid rod means and a lever member pivotally connected to said block member.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein stop means are operably associated with an indexing arm to stop the rotation of said arm in a predetermined position.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said stop means is adjustable.

7. The method of providing smooth motion to an in dexing arm which supports at least two winding spindles comprising: applying a rotational force to the indexing arm, reducing the resistance to movement of the indexing arm while maintaining the applied rotational force until the indexing arm has rotated approximately increasing the resistance to movement of the indexing arm while maintaining the applied rotational force as the indexing arm is rotated beyond 90 and bringing the indexing arm to a stop. 

1. An indexing mechanism for an indexing arm having at least two spindle positions thereon comprising: a first means rotably mounting said indexing arm, rod means fixed to said first means, a second means connected to said rod means to rotate said first and said second means and a means operably associated with said second means to cause said second means to rotate said first means to selectively place one of said positions into operative relationship with a fibeR supply means, said second means including means to automatically vary the effective length of said rod means.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the stop means are operably associated with an indexing arm to stop the rotation of said arm in a predetermined position.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said stop means is adjustable.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means to vary the effective length of said rod means includes a block member slidably mounted on said rod means and a lever member pivotally connected to said block member.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein stop means are operably associated with an indexing arm to stop the rotation of said arm in a predetermined position.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said stop means is adjustable.
 7. The method of providing smooth motion to an indexing arm which supports at least two winding spindles comprising: applying a rotational force to the indexing arm, reducing the resistance to movement of the indexing arm while maintaining the applied rotational force until the indexing arm has rotated approximately 90*, increasing the resistance to movement of the indexing arm while maintaining the applied rotational force as the indexing arm is rotated beyond 90* and bringing the indexing arm to a stop. 